Ugandans will decide their political future
LAST week, the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, <b>Dr Nsaba Buturo</b>, made a statement at the government’s weekly press briefing. Below are excerpts.
LAST week, the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Dr Nsaba Buturo, made a statement at the government’s weekly press briefing. Below are excerpts.
Political party activity
The political transition process from the Movement to a multiparty system is already underway. However, realisation of the latter system will depend on the outcome of the planned referendum on June 30. While we await the referendum and some political party activity is allowed, the Government wishes to inform the country that full-scale political activities by political parties are not yet possible.
The Government will soon issue guidelines on how political parties should conduct themselves during the political transition.
Because the people are supreme, the subject of opening political space will be decided through a referendum. The outcome will determine the political direction of the country as well as the future of political parties.
Public demonstrations
There is a resurgence of what the Government would call “politics of demonstrationsâ€. In the last week or so, various demonstrations have graced the streets of Kampala. By and large, they have been orderly and lawfully held.
Government commends this situation and reminds Ugandans that to demonstrate is a democratic right that must be exercised in a responsible way. Members of the opposition have the same responsibility to ensure an orderly political transition should Ugandans decide to amend Article 74 of the Constitution.
In the last week, there were traces of disorder in one of the demonstrations. Abusive language was directed at some eminent national leaders in our land. This behaviour is to be deplored and the organisers of future demonstrations asked to ensure that use of abusive language is avoided. In that same demonstration, Aggrey Awori (Samia Bugwe) was robbed by a fellow sympathiser of sh100,000!
It is a responsibility of both the Government and the opposition to show that the path of multiparty democracy that we are proposing to the people of Uganda will not encourage anarchy but rather more liberty and freedom.
On Wednesday, the Minister of Internal Affairs advised against further public demonstrations in the city over the proposed amendment of the Constitution in respect of lifting the presidential term limit.
One of the organisers of the demonstrations was quoted to have said their business was to “change this Government by demonstrationâ€. The objective to make Kampala ungovernable, if allowed to pass, would disrupt business and deny others freedom.
International Convention on Uganda’s Governance
In London, United Kingdom, an international convention on Uganda’s Governance was slated to take place on April 3. It is reported the objective of the convention is to determine whether the constitution changes taking place in Uganda will lead to adoption of federalism, human rights and good governance in the country.
According to the convention’s spokesperson, resolutions on how Uganda should be governed before and after President Museveni will be discussed and a programme proposed should President Museveni and his ‘diehards’ impose unwanted constitutional amendments.
The spokesperson further says “the convention is so special because it is going to discuss and map out the strategies for Uganda’s 2006 leadership quest.â€
The Government has a relaxed stance premised on a firm belief that the masters of Uganda’s destiny are the people of Uganda. There are sufficient and well tested institutions capable of mediating different opinions on how Uganda should be governed.
It is probable that the organisers are out of touch with reality in Uganda and their pronouncements are based on information that is neither factual nor relevant. The locomotive of democracy is already on the move in Uganda and it cannot be stopped.
Proposals to amend certain provisions of Uganda’s Constitution are before the Parliament and the general public is deeply involved in debating the same especially in the media. The Government is satisfied that the debates are participatory across the country and there are sufficient and well-tested institutions capable of mediating different opinions on how Uganda should be governed and by whom.
Some individuals believe Uganda’s future politics will be decided by people residing outside Uganda. Truth is the governance of Uganda will be decided by Ugandans alone.
Of late, there have been opinions expressed, especially through the media, on the political future of Uganda. ‘Friends’ of Uganda have made it their business to comment on the evolving political dynamics in the country since the Cabinet supported proposals to change certain articles in the Constitution.
Knowing the history of ‘concern’ that our friends have had for Uganda, the more we hear about those concerns, the more we are convinced there is something good they do not want Ugandans to see, appreciate and have. That conviction emboldens us the more to do things our way.
The Government has confidence that Ugandans will decide what is best for them based on their analysis and not that of others. Democratisation in Uganda, or anywhere else, is never about term limits. Most established democracies have no term limits. When Ugandans want to consider lifting term limits, they are told that will lead to death of democracy.
Human Rights watch and regime of tyranny and torture
Human Rights Watch (HRW), a US-based non-governmental organisation recently alleged that Uganda is redirecting its HIV prevention strategy for young people away from scientifically proven and effective strategies toward ideologically driven programmes that focus primarily on promoting sexual abstinence until marriage. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The Government has no intention of responding to every issue HRW makes about Uganda. However, it is appropriate that the Government points out that HRW report is both laughable and factually wrong.
Our record is well known to the whole world except HRW. At one time, Uganda’s infection rate was around 30%. Today it is at 6%. What brought about this drastic fall is a combination of strategies of Abstinence, Being faithful and Condom use. Each of these three strategies has had a major role to play. The Government, therefore, treats them equally contrary to what HRW says.
In future, the Government will not respond to statements by all and sundry purporting to be experts on what is taking place in Uganda. However, this one will not go unchallenged.
A certain Adrian Bolmfield writing in the Daily Telegraph says tyranny and torture are back with vengeance to haunt Uganda. Those who know Uganda will hardly agree with this.
Belying all the lies appearing in the media these days is a campaign being orchestrated and organised against President Museveni and the NRM. This campaign is designed to whip up resentment against his leadership.
This switch in tactics follows a realisation that the president enjoys massive country-wide support and that his vision for Uganda could transform the country.
Attempts to refer to proposed constitutional changes to justify opposition to the country’s leadership indicate the low opinion that proponents have of our institutions such as Parliament.
The Government believes that these are proper institutions that will address all the proposals in a way that is clear, fair, participatory and democratic.
Political party activity
The political transition process from the Movement to a multiparty system is already underway. However, realisation of the latter system will depend on the outcome of the planned referendum on June 30. While we await the referendum and some political party activity is allowed, the Government wishes to inform the country that full-scale political activities by political parties are not yet possible.
The Government will soon issue guidelines on how political parties should conduct themselves during the political transition.
Because the people are supreme, the subject of opening political space will be decided through a referendum. The outcome will determine the political direction of the country as well as the future of political parties.
Public demonstrations
There is a resurgence of what the Government would call “politics of demonstrationsâ€. In the last week or so, various demonstrations have graced the streets of Kampala. By and large, they have been orderly and lawfully held.
Government commends this situation and reminds Ugandans that to demonstrate is a democratic right that must be exercised in a responsible way. Members of the opposition have the same responsibility to ensure an orderly political transition should Ugandans decide to amend Article 74 of the Constitution.
In the last week, there were traces of disorder in one of the demonstrations. Abusive language was directed at some eminent national leaders in our land. This behaviour is to be deplored and the organisers of future demonstrations asked to ensure that use of abusive language is avoided. In that same demonstration, Aggrey Awori (Samia Bugwe) was robbed by a fellow sympathiser of sh100,000!
It is a responsibility of both the Government and the opposition to show that the path of multiparty democracy that we are proposing to the people of Uganda will not encourage anarchy but rather more liberty and freedom.
On Wednesday, the Minister of Internal Affairs advised against further public demonstrations in the city over the proposed amendment of the Constitution in respect of lifting the presidential term limit.
One of the organisers of the demonstrations was quoted to have said their business was to “change this Government by demonstrationâ€. The objective to make Kampala ungovernable, if allowed to pass, would disrupt business and deny others freedom.
International Convention on Uganda’s Governance
In London, United Kingdom, an international convention on Uganda’s Governance was slated to take place on April 3. It is reported the objective of the convention is to determine whether the constitution changes taking place in Uganda will lead to adoption of federalism, human rights and good governance in the country.
According to the convention’s spokesperson, resolutions on how Uganda should be governed before and after President Museveni will be discussed and a programme proposed should President Museveni and his ‘diehards’ impose unwanted constitutional amendments.
The spokesperson further says “the convention is so special because it is going to discuss and map out the strategies for Uganda’s 2006 leadership quest.â€
The Government has a relaxed stance premised on a firm belief that the masters of Uganda’s destiny are the people of Uganda. There are sufficient and well tested institutions capable of mediating different opinions on how Uganda should be governed.
It is probable that the organisers are out of touch with reality in Uganda and their pronouncements are based on information that is neither factual nor relevant. The locomotive of democracy is already on the move in Uganda and it cannot be stopped.
Proposals to amend certain provisions of Uganda’s Constitution are before the Parliament and the general public is deeply involved in debating the same especially in the media. The Government is satisfied that the debates are participatory across the country and there are sufficient and well-tested institutions capable of mediating different opinions on how Uganda should be governed and by whom.
Some individuals believe Uganda’s future politics will be decided by people residing outside Uganda. Truth is the governance of Uganda will be decided by Ugandans alone.
Of late, there have been opinions expressed, especially through the media, on the political future of Uganda. ‘Friends’ of Uganda have made it their business to comment on the evolving political dynamics in the country since the Cabinet supported proposals to change certain articles in the Constitution.
Knowing the history of ‘concern’ that our friends have had for Uganda, the more we hear about those concerns, the more we are convinced there is something good they do not want Ugandans to see, appreciate and have. That conviction emboldens us the more to do things our way.
The Government has confidence that Ugandans will decide what is best for them based on their analysis and not that of others. Democratisation in Uganda, or anywhere else, is never about term limits. Most established democracies have no term limits. When Ugandans want to consider lifting term limits, they are told that will lead to death of democracy.
Human Rights watch and regime of tyranny and torture
Human Rights Watch (HRW), a US-based non-governmental organisation recently alleged that Uganda is redirecting its HIV prevention strategy for young people away from scientifically proven and effective strategies toward ideologically driven programmes that focus primarily on promoting sexual abstinence until marriage. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The Government has no intention of responding to every issue HRW makes about Uganda. However, it is appropriate that the Government points out that HRW report is both laughable and factually wrong.
Our record is well known to the whole world except HRW. At one time, Uganda’s infection rate was around 30%. Today it is at 6%. What brought about this drastic fall is a combination of strategies of Abstinence, Being faithful and Condom use. Each of these three strategies has had a major role to play. The Government, therefore, treats them equally contrary to what HRW says.
In future, the Government will not respond to statements by all and sundry purporting to be experts on what is taking place in Uganda. However, this one will not go unchallenged.
A certain Adrian Bolmfield writing in the Daily Telegraph says tyranny and torture are back with vengeance to haunt Uganda. Those who know Uganda will hardly agree with this.
Belying all the lies appearing in the media these days is a campaign being orchestrated and organised against President Museveni and the NRM. This campaign is designed to whip up resentment against his leadership.
This switch in tactics follows a realisation that the president enjoys massive country-wide support and that his vision for Uganda could transform the country.
Attempts to refer to proposed constitutional changes to justify opposition to the country’s leadership indicate the low opinion that proponents have of our institutions such as Parliament.
The Government believes that these are proper institutions that will address all the proposals in a way that is clear, fair, participatory and democratic.